The recent tragic death of Whitney Houston has once again brought drug abuse, particularly celebrity drug abuse, into the spotlight. Drug abuse for the famous has been and will continue to be a problem just as drug abuse for every other class of people, rich or poor, famous or not famous, skilled and talented or not so skilled and talented.One thing that I have noticed over the years is that there seems to be different views and feelings in our society when it comes to certain people who struggle with addiction. When those with fame and popularity who are well liked for their special talents or family ties have tragic circumstances occur as a result of drug abuse, the general response and tone is compassion, concern, empathy and love. However, this does not seem to be the same views or shared feelings in our society for the less fortunate when they fall victim to drug abuse and addiction.

When a Ray Charles or Johnny Cash fall victim, we hope the best for them and then make a movie about their life telling how they overcame their problem and went on to become our greatest Americans. When Betty Ford became addicted to drugs, it was, "poor Betty”, our beloved first lady, she needs help and we will all be there for her. When Whitney dies so many people are shocked and full of grief wondering how did this happen and what could we have done to prevent this tragedy?Our hearts and thoughts go out to these people and their families as they should, but what are our thoughts about the millions of other not so popular Americans who struggle and suffer with addiction? In these cases we often hear a totally different response. Those no good drug addicts that poison and endanger our society. They need to be taken off the streets and thrown in jail. We need to crack down on the drug dealers and throw away the key.

Something that we need to realize is that celebrities and wealthy people are not in the same position as those who do not have unlimited finances to support their habit. People with very little or no money are driven by their addiction to do things that they would have thought unthinkable just a few years or even a few months prior. We have all heard about the young women and even teenage girls who prostitute themselves in order to purchase enough drugs just to get them through that day or night. Addiction robs a person of their character and morals and leads a person into a survival mode where anything is possible. Unfortunately for the poor, this survival mode often leads to dangerous and more desperate measures than those that can readily dish out money to support their habit. Stealing, prostitution, joining a gang and selling drugs to support the habit becomes what has to be done to survive day by day.In order to understand how this could happen to anyone, just think for a moment realistically, what would happen if we were to make cigarettes illegal tomorrow? Can anyone honestly say that our most upstanding citizens including police and judges wouldn’t be involved in any means possible to get their hands on that one pack of cigarettes? Of course they would, just as they did when trying to get the next drink during prohibition.

The interesting thing here is that it is easy to view people who we personally like and love as something of more value than those we don't. We want to help those that are specially gifted or that can give us the love and attention we need and are used to. We want to continue to enjoy what they can give to us, good music, good movies, great touchdowns, and so on. We even go so far as to eliminate the word addict when speaking about those we care so dearly for. For some reason, the term drug addict is automatically replaced with, Betty, our first lady, has a “Problem” and we will all be there for her. Immediately love, compassion and sympathy exist. Perhaps the question of values need to be asked of our society rather than those with the drug addiction on the street struggling to survive day-to-day in a very dangerous environment.

While watching a very popular TV show following Whitney's death, I took note of what was said by a so-called leading expert in the field of drug addiction. "Celebrities have a more difficult time overcoming drug addiction than other people. They have so much pressure and expectations put on them and they are always in the spotlight. Being a licensed drug abuse counselor that has worked in this field for fifteen years, hearing so-called top professionals of the field say something like this is extremely disappointing. I have heard these types of statements on a consistent basis over the last few years from several counselors who work with the rich and famous that has drug abuse problems. To be honest I would have turned the TV off when this interview started had it not been for the fact that someone else was already involved in watching the show. If the professional being interviewed were to have said something like, "celebrities face a certain set of unique difficulties that others do not", this would have been a true statement and I would have been all ears. Instead I listened again to someone talk about the “dilemma” of the rich and famous.

One day as I was driving four residents from an alcohol and drug abuse recovery support meeting back to our small and barely funded community halfway house, a young woman made a statement that I found to be simple but profoundly true. She said "You know, recovery is easier for people who have money. How are we supposed to learn how to have fun and enjoy living sober when we cannot afford to do anything"?

The quick answer for someone in my position is usually supposed to be one that immediately stops any self- pity from taking place and say something like, "Quit feeling sorry for yourself and get a job". The fact that I had been in her shoes at one time, I knew exactly what she was feeling. She was not looking for pity, but was truly making a heartfelt statement while presenting a sincere and honest question.

How does someone who is struggling go from where she is to where she needs to be as a financially and emotionally happy and secure individual? In today's real world there are very few living wage jobs and it is much harder for those with no special skills, formal education, no money and resources, or family to help. Over the last several years I have literally seen thousands of people in this situation. It is amazing to me how many head out clean and sober in many cases for the first time since being a juvenile. Many were on probation with a non -violent felony drug possession charge, now on their record, face the world with courage and hope in spite of having what most of us would look at as nothing to go on. They head out clean and straight, not knowing how they are going to be able to stay that way. They go from business to business being turned away over and over for every reason in the book, but most of all sorry we don't hire felons. Ironically we as a society expect these people to somehow miraculously pull themselves up and get a life.

How can any professional in the field say that celebrities have more pressures and difficulties than one of these people? Celebrities have many options that make it far easier in many ways than the average person struggling with drug abuse and dependency issues.

Celebrities have the finances to take a break and get their head together for a while having the means to receive the best of care and treatment. The poor cannot.

Celebrities don't have to have any expectations put on them in their career because they can stop, sit back enjoy their wealth and not have to work another day in their life if they so choose. The only expectations that they would have is the ones they would be allowing and choosing to let be put on themselves.

Celebrities have the money and resources to change careers at any time and become anything they want to be without even having the worry of paying back student loans as so many of our career seeking Americans face today. The list goes on of options and possibilities for the rich and famous.

Don't get me wrong; being a licensed substance abuse counselor who has worked in the field for fifteen years and a person who at one time in my life who also struggled with addiction, I do know that no matter who you are, rich or famous, the battle is more difficult than can be explained. However, the obstacles and dilemmas do not compare in the slightest to the millions who have been so much less fortunate, and who are so often brought up in poverty, broken families, and violent drug invested neighborhoods and the dead-end streets of our communities. These are the people who face the real pressures of this world and who struggle just to survive another day. They are the ones that are more often than not, born into poverty, violence, and broken homes with no real role models in their lives.

It is my opinion that before these so-called top professionals in the field make a statement like "celebrities have a more difficult time overcoming drug addiction than other people", they need to get a real education by getting out of their exclusive high-class celebrity rehab treatment facilities, and visit one of our county jails, community halfway houses or inner city schools.​Resources for more information: "The New Jim Crow" by: Michelle Alexander -PBS Frontline "Interrupted"